"Fat tax" on soft drinks would fight obesity - UK study

A “fat tax” on sugary drinks would help stop increasing rates of obesity, according to study published in the latest British Journal of Nutrition. The BJN study analyses trends in consumption of all drinks by both children and adults in Britain between 1986 and 2009. It estimates the likely impact of a 10% increase in the price of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). "In testing taxation as an option for shifting beverage purchase patterns, we calculate that a 10% increase in the price of SSBs could potentially result in a decrease of 7.5ml per capita per day," the study says. A similar 10% hike in the cost of full-fat milk would also reduce consumption of it by 5ml per person per day and increased intake of reduced fat milk by 7ml per head every day, it adds.
One of the four authors of the report is Professor Susan Jebb, an eminent nutrition specialist who has been the British Government's main adviser on obesity since 2007. British Prime Minister David Cameron said in October that the Coalition would consider following Denmark which days earlier introduced a "fat tax" on foods containing more than 2.3% saturate fat as a way of minimising the rising medical harm and financial cost to its health service caused by obesity.